Africa Economics Update SARB: Window for a cut closed, rates will be on hold Given policymakers’ decision to keep their key rate on hold at 6.50% today, we now think that South African interest rates will remain unchanged over the coming quarters. Policymakers do not seem... 19th September 2019 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Recovery loses momentum Activity data for July suggest that South Africa’s recovery lost steam at the start of Q3. We remain comfortable with our below-consensus growth forecast of 0.5% for this year as a whole. 18th September 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa CPI (Aug.) South African inflation remained below the target midpoint in August, which we think will allow policymakers to cut their key rate from 6.50% to 6.25% at their meeting tomorrow. 18th September 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Recovery already waning Despite the slight improvement in the manufacturing sector, the batch of activity figures for July suggests that South Africa’s economic recovery in Q2 faded at the start of Q3. This adds to reasons... 12th September 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Q2 rebound, but underlying growth weak South Africa’s economy made a surprisingly strong recovery in Q2, growing by 3.1% q/q saar, but growth remained weak at a year-on-year rate. Given soft demand and low petrol prices, we expect that... 3rd September 2019 · 3 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Aug.) South Africa’s manufacturing PMI fell to 45.7 in August, adding to the evidence that – despite the rebound in Q2 – the underlying pace of economic growth remains weak. 2nd September 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Treasury plan puts pressure on president The unexpected release of economic reform proposals by South Africa’s treasury is probably an attempt to push the president to announce a more ambitious plan at October’s budget speech. The plan... 29th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa CPI (Jul.) South African inflation slipped to just 4.0% y/y in July, supporting our view that policymakers will cut their policy rate from 6.50% to 6.25% in September. This is a strongly non-consensus view. 21st August 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Tepid recovery in Q2, rate cut still likely June retail sales figures released today added to the evidence that the economy returned to growth in Q2. But the recovery was soft – we estimate around 1.6% q/q saar – and we still think that... 14th August 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Rand weakness will continue We’ve cut our end-year rand forecast from an already below-consensus ZAR15/$ to ZAR16.5/$. While risks are growing, we’re holding to our view that the SARB will cut its policy rate by 25bp in... 12th August 2019 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Signs point to rebound in Q2 Despite the weak performance of the manufacturing sector, June activity data strengthened our view that South Africa returned to growth in Q2 after a sharp fall in Q1. Combined with recent currency... 8th August 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Focus South Africa: What is to be done? Hopes that President Cyril Ramaphosa can quickly revive South Africa’s economy are fading. The real problems are all structural, so even if he does make bold policy changes – far from guaranteed... 7th August 2019 · 20 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Jul.) South Africa’s PMI rebounded to 52.1 in July, adding to signs that the economy gained pace in the middle of the year. Even so, headline growth over 2019 as a whole will be tepid, and we still expect... 1st August 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa CPI (Jun.) South African inflation remained at the 4.5% mid-point of the target range in June, which strengthens our view that policymakers will follow up this month’s 25bp rate cut with another one in September... 24th July 2019 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Another cut likely in September Policymakers in South Africa will probably follow today’s 25bp cut with another 25bp of loosening at their next meeting in September. We expect that South African inflation will ease in Q3, while cuts... 18th July 2019 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy strengthened in May Activity data for May suggest that South Africa returned to growth in Q2. We estimate that GDP rose by about 1.0% q/q saar in the three months to May, and that activity strengthened further in June... 17th July 2019 · 2 mins read
